Archive for December, 2017

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If you’re like most people, you set resolutions each year, and if you are like most people, you rarely achieve them! Maybe you should consider setting intentions rather than resolutions. What’s the difference?

According to wikidiff.com, “As nouns, the difference between resolution and intention is that resolution is a strong will or determination while intention is a course of action that a person intends to follow.”

Big difference, right? An intention is a course of action!

As the end of 2017 fast approaches, think about what’s ahead for 2018. Pretend it’s one year from today, and you are writing about everything that you accomplished in 2018. Consider both professional and personal accomplishments.

What’s on your list?

Take each item and create a course of action to achieve it. For example, let’s say one of your items is to obtain a professional certification that will enhance your career and promotional opportunities. What actions steps are necessary to achieve this? When will you take them? When will you complete each step? The more detail you include in your course of action, the more real your intention becomes until you can believe that you can do it.

Intentions carry more power and are more motivating than resolutions because they force us to look at how we will achieve them.

Holiday time is fun and simultaneously stressful. Juggling your work and private life is challenging most days, but during the holidays, the pace speeds up. You have more to do than one human being can handle, and there’s less time to get it all done! It’s a perfect storm for short tempers and thin patience. Here are some tips to keep things from stealing your holiday joy.

Make clear decisions about how you want to spend your time and money. Focus on what’s most important and don’t let little things ruin your peace of mind.

Just say no. Be assertive about declining activities you don’t have the bandwidth—or desire—to take on.

Ask for help. You don’t have to do everything by yourself. Ask your manager if your schedule can be more flexible during this time. Have family and friends pitch in at home and involve your family in planning and execution.

Make shopping easy! Use online retailers and have gifts wrapped and sent. If you’re braving brick-and-mortar stores, plan. Decide what you want, what stores you want to visit, and focus on getting in and out. If you like holiday hustle and bustle, be prepared for noise, jostling, and long lines.

Most importantly, take time for yourself to relax and decompress from stress. Make this holiday season fun and peaceful for you and those around you.

You probably will be attending many holiday parties hosted by clients and colleagues. These events are wonderful opportunities to get to know people outside of business, but even though the focus may not be on business, your professionalism is on display. Don’t let the temptation to relax and have fun lead to missteps that can reflect badly on you. The event is business related, so stay on your best behavior. Here are some tips to help you.

Review your company’s policies and adhere to them.

Before taking photos, make sure you have people’s permission. It can be annoying to have someone whip out a phone and start shooting.

Be careful what you post on social media since you might embarrass someone—or yourself!—or violate your company’s policies or that of your customers.

If alcohol is served, limit your intake and make sure you eat while you drink. At customer events, you might want to avoid alcohol and stick to soda or sparkling water.

Make a point to get to know someone new or someone you only know by phone. The holiday party is a good time to reconnect with those you haven’t seen or spoken with in a while.

Avoid talking shop and focus on getting to know people better as individuals.

Holiday parties can be valuable opportunities to deepen relationships with clients and colleagues. While it’s fine to be relaxed and have fun, keep things in moderation and always act with courtesy and professionalism.

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